NewsBite

Australia's Pandemic

October

The US Centers for Disease Contol rapidly became politicised.

The danger of COVID zealots has not passed

The proposed new Australian Centre for Disease Control is open to the same ideological capture that plagued its US counterpart.

  • Nick Coatsworth

September

Federation Square sits deserted during Melbourne’s second-wave lockdown in August 2020. Some groups faced serious harm from the lockdowns.

A cure for disinformation that’s as bad as the disease

Well-meaning legislation to protect Australians from online lies could end up silencing legitimate public health questions as well.

  • Nick Coatsworth
Australia’s coronavirus commissioners (from left) Robyn Kruk, Professor Catherine Bennett and Angela Jackson.

Australia’s new pandemic playbook

On the eve of the release of the national COVID-19 review, 10 key actions have emerged for when a similar pathogen hits Australia.

  • Tom Burton

How Australia crushed the COVID curve and lost the race

This country had one of the best-designed economic responses in the world, and one of the worst vaccine procurement processes.

  • Richard Holden and Steven Hamilton

August

Australian households have exhausted their excess savings.

Households have run out of pandemic savings

The $300 billion in pandemic-era savings may have run out, encouraging households to save stage three tax cuts.

  • Michael Read
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Peter Huddle in Vicinity’s flagship Melbourne mall, Chadstone.

Chadstone owner Vicinity beats guidance as occupancy rates rise

The mall landlord reported operating earnings of 14.6¢ per security after saying in February that it would hit the top end of its guidance of 14.5¢.

  • Larry Schlesinger
Doctors are also having a go with their call for health funds to return more to members, even though consumers already receive 86 cents for every premium dollar – the highest of all insurance types.

Five reasons health funds shouldn’t bail out private hospitals

The short-sighted arguments of vested interests would increase the cost of insurance for Australians contributing to their own healthcare.

  • Rachel David

July

Robert Half director Nicole Gorton says more employers are offering staff a choice between a managerial career and one built on technical expertise.

You’re not alone, workers are avoiding becoming managers

Working from home is far from the only enduring workplace trend of the pandemic. It’s clear that our attitudes to work have changed significantly too.

  • Euan Black

January

Around $7 billion to $11 billion of Australia’s cash is being used to facilitate crime.

Most cash is being hoarded, and lots used for crime, says RBA

As the RBA and lenders respond to crisis in cash distribution, new analysis shows up to 80pc of cash is being hoarded, while up to 11pc is in criminal hands.

  • James Eyers
Heidi Smith, lead partner at architecture firm Gray Puksand, agreed that leaders had become “accidental counsellors” after the pandemic.

How leaders became ‘accidental counsellors’

Managers were once advised to steer clear of employees’ personal problems. But now they are expected to show interest in them and offer support if required.

  • Euan Black

August 2023

WeWork troubles put $900m in rent at risk in Australia

The New York-listed company says there is “substantial doubt” over its ability to keep operating, as it bleeds cash and memberships are cancelled.

  • Nick Lenaghan
Qantas could be forced to pay customers back with interest.

Qantas sued over ‘misleading’ flight credits, refunds

Hundreds of thousands of passengers waiting for refunds could claim compensation for lost interest from Qantas.

  • Ayesha de Kretser
Cairns couple Ricky and Julie Britten are struggling with Qantas to claim flight credits.

‘Please don’t hang up!’: What it’s like trying to claim Qantas credits

Qantas is still the most complained-about company in Australia, with refunds the biggest problem.

  • Ayesha de Kretser

July 2023

Some distributors are cutting back on orders for Ansell gloves.

Ansell shares plummet on glove glut, earnings warning

The maker of safety equipment flagged job cuts and major IT spending.

  • Liam Walsh
Irregular players may not realise that Jumbo charges a huge premium over lottery tickets sold from physical vendors such as newsagents.

Luck and the street smile on Jumbo Interactive

A hot and cold year for jackpots has dimmed enthusiasm for lotteries reseller Jumbo Interactive, but a simple price increase will turn its fortunes around, analysts say.

  • Vesna Poljak
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June 2023

Pandemic-era policies have taken an unacceptable toll on young people.

COVID-era policies cost young people $116b

Because policymakers gave in to political temptations and fear, the lives of our young people – and indeed all our lives – will be worse.

  • Gigi Foster

April 2023

Professor Jeremy Nicholson has a unique insight into long COVID.

This professor is a global coronavirus expert. Now he has long COVID

Jeremy Nicholson is a world-leader in understanding how disease interacts with people’s genetic make-up. But when he got long COVID, he had a whole new level of insight.

  • Julie Hare
Jim Chalmers cannot afford the welfare spending demands being made of the government.

Labor has made a rod for its own back with the welfare committee

Treasurer Jim Chalmers had been sitting – and sweating – on the welfare report by the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee for weeks. It’s little wonder he tried to bury it.

  • Phillip Coorey

March 2023

There were 20,000 excess deaths caused by COVID-19 last year, according to the Actuaries Institute.

COVID-19 linked to 20,000 Australian deaths in 2022: study

Last year, excess deaths climbed to nearly 20,000 in Australia, a toll the country has not seen since World War ll.

  • Jill Margo

February 2023

NIB CEO Mark Fitzgibbon.

NIB profit, dividend up but shares smashed

NIB Holdings says policyholder numbers kept growing after COVID, travel and international divisions rebound, but the market punished the health insurer because margins have started to soften.

  • Ayesha de Kretser

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/australia-s-pandemic-1nlp